GAMES: A new Scenario for Software and Knowledge Reuse

Games are a well-known test bed for testing search algorithms and learning methods, and many authors have presented numerous reasons for the research in this area. Nevertheless, they have not received the attention they deserve as software projects. In this paper, we analyze the applicability of software and knowledge reuse in the games domain. In spite of the need to find a good evaluation function, search algorithms and interface design can be said to be the primary concerns. In addition, we will discuss the current state of the main statistical learning methods and how they can be addressed from a software engineering point of view. So, this paper proposes a reliable environment and adequate tools, necessary in order to achieve high levels of reuse in the games domain

Improving a Satellite Mission System by means of a Semantic Grid Architecture

The use of a semantic grid architecture can make easier the deployment of complex applications, in which several organizations are involved and diverse resources are shared. This paper presents the application of the architecture defined in the Ontogrid project (S-OGSA) into a scenario for the analysis of the quality of the products of satellite missions

El pensamiento estadístico en la planificación de lecciones de estadística por profesores de secundaria

En este artículo se analiza el discurso de cinco profesores durante la planificación de una lección sobre gráficas y medidas de tendencia central como parte de tres actividades profesionales (planificación, enseñanza y análisis de lecciones de clase) que llevan a cabo en un proyecto de desarrollo profesional enfocado a la enseñanza-aprendizaje de la estadística. En este artículo sólo se estudia la fase de planificación con el objetivo de identificar las dificultades y posibilidades que los profesores poseen para diseñar estrategias de enseñanza; también, se estudia en qué medida se reflejan los elementos de un pensamiento estadístico en la lección planificada

Implementation of an autonomy support program during Physical Education lessons

El objetivo de este estudio es conocer los efectos de un programa basado en el soporte de autonomía a través de las clases de Educación Física sobre las necesidades psicológicas básicas, la regulación conductual y la percepción del estilo interpersonal del docente. Los participantes del estudio fueron 61 alumnos (25 chicos y 36 chicas) con edades comprendidas entre los 14 y los 17 años de edad (M = 14.97; DT = .85), pertenecientes a dos Centros Educativos españoles. Los estudiantes fueron divididos aleatoriamente en dos grupos (control y experimental). Los instrumentos utilizados fueron la Escala de Satisfacción de Necesidades Psicológicas Básicas, el Cuestionario de la Regulación Conductual en el Deporte y el Cuestionario de Estilo interpersonal del docente. Los profesores aplicaron en el grupo experimental el programa basado en el soporte de autonomía durante las clases de Educación Física en un total de ocho semanas. Los resultados indicaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas respecto a la relación con los demás (p<.01) y a la percepción del estilo autónomo del docente (p<.05), no encontrándose diferencias significativas respecto al resto de variables. Como conclusión principal indicar que un programa basado en el fomento de la autonomía, puede ser óptimo para el incremento de las relaciones entre los alumnos

Thermal switching of the scattering coefficients of terahertz surface plasmon polaritons impinging on a finite array of subwavelength grooves on semiconductor surfaces

8 págs.; 8 figs.; 1 tab. ; PACS number s : 73.20.Mf, 78.68. m, 65.40. b, 41.20.JbWe present a theoretical framework that allows us to investigate the scattering of terahertz surface plasmon polaritons (SPP's) by arrays of subwavelength grooves and ridges on semiconductors. The formulation is based on the reduced Rayleigh equation resulting upon imposing an impedance boundary condition. Guided by approximate estimations of the broadening with temperature of the first gap in the SPP dispersion relation in the case of indium antimonide samples with rectangular grooves, numerical calculations are carried out to determine the spectral dependence of all the SPP scattering channels (reflection, transmission, and radiation) in the immediate vicinity of that gap. The thermally induced switching of the SPP reflection and transmission nearby the lower SPP band edge is investigated as a function of groove parameters (size and number); near-field intensity maps are also presented. We thus shed light on the SPP scattering and switching physical mechanisms, thereby providing the most suitable experimental configurations. © 2006 The American Physical Society.This work was supported in part by the Spanish “Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia” Grant Nos. BFM2003-0427 and FIS2004-0108 and “Comunidad de Madrid” Grant MICROSERES and by the European Union Grant HPRN-CT- 2002-00206. The work of J.G.R. was supported by the “Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie” FOM, which is financially supported by the “Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek” NWO.Peer Reviewe

Study of the efflux velocity induced by two propellers

Present analysis is related with seabed erosion caused during docking and undocking maneuvering. Twin propellers without rudder were studied using a physical model with a fixed clearance distance and three different rotating velocities. Experimental results were compared to theoretical expressions of the efflux velocity, axial velocity and finally maximum bed velocity. Efflux velocity equations overestimate the experimental results, whereas axial velocity computed using the Dutch method fits reasonably well the experimental data. However, when maximum bed velocity expressions are compared to experimental results, German method behaves better with an over estimation if a quadratic superposition of the single jets is used.Postprint (published version